Here Are 5 Reasons Why Black Women Should Reevaluate and Redefine Our Relationship with Work (Labor)

First, a little bit of history. 

Labor Day recently passed in the United States. This holiday celebrated the unofficial end of summer and return to school, but it was originally designed to celebrate the efforts of Americans who perform labor. People who work are celebrated along with the tremendous social and economic impact their labor has made on society. We are intended to reflect upon how far we have come from the days during the industrial revolution when there were few, if any, labor laws. Children worked alongside adults under hazardous conditions; 80-hour work weeks were common, low wages, debilitating injuries, and often the possibility of death were all part of a day’s work. Very few poor women and women of color had the luxury of not performing some type of manual labor outside the home, especially in urbanized industrial areas. After considerable protests, and the shedding of blood, Labor Day was officially established as a national holiday in the summer of 1894. Currently, over 600 countries celebrate their own unique forms of Labor Day.

Today, women are re-evaluating their relationships with work, especially considering technology and the realities of remote work during Covid. Some women are choosing to forego retirement and move into a season of meaningful activities that bring in income- in ways they control. More women in general are choosing to work flexibly, while those that can are returning home from the workplace altogether. Personally, I made the decision twenty-nine years ago, to work part-time on a full-time basis. I’ve never regretted that decision or the opportunities afforded to me as a result.

I believe Black women should redefine and re-evaluate our relationships with work for several reasons. Let me count the ways:

First, the intersection of our race and gender often results in us being undervalued and underpaid in workplace situations relative to our non-Black counterparts. 

Second, Black women are typically expected to take on more unpaid labor outside of work such as caregiving (sometimes for multiple households) and household tasks. This can lead to burnout and limit our opportunities for career advancement and asset accumulation. This expectation of added caregiving often interferes with, plans for retirement. Many older Black women do not fully actualize their retirement years as they find themselves parenting grandchildren, caring for adult relatives, or going back to work to help with college tuition or the specter of student loan debt for a loved one- or for themselves.

Third, the historical legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and discrimination such as redlining and higher interest rates have created systemic barriers to Black women’s economic mobility. This makes it necessary for us to seek alternative forms of income and entrepreneurship. 

Fourth, the Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted the employment and financial stability of Black women as many were front-line workers, as well as those who lost a disproportionate number of family members to the pandemic. The labor of Black women and other women of color has traditionally allowed White women to lead softer lives.  

My final point is that redefining and reevaluating our relationships with work can lead to more holistic and fulfilling experiences, allowing Black women to intentionally prioritize our own well-being and personal growth. This can allow more softness, imagination, and creativity in our personal and professional lives, and opens the way for more choices in how we want to live.

Next steps

If any of this resonates with you, let's talk!

Between September 15 and October 6, 2023, I’m offering a round of laser coaching sessions to address several wealth-building strategies that can be implemented immediately to improve cashflow, leading to a significant positive impact on one’s financial well-being, and quality of life as a whole. Click on for a discovery call, or a coffee chat on my calendar here: Sunya's calendar

Jumpstart Your Souljourn! There are still a few spaces and hotel rooms available for our January Retreat in Mexico, where we will take a deep dive into our relationships with work, money, and the choices we make that lead us toward or away from the softer lives we desire. Jumpstart-your-souljourn

I'm including two sources of information for your further exploration:

Harvey, A. (2020) Women Are Advancing in the Workplace But Women of Color Still Lag Behind, Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/articles/women-are-advancing-in-the-workplace-but-women-of-color-still-lag-behind/

 The Impact of Black Women’s Work on White Women’s Leisure: An Analysis of the Intersection of Race and Gender in the United States”, by Elizabeth A. Armstrong and Laura T. Hamilton (2008)

 What are your thoughts about your work, retirement, and money? How and where do you plan to navigate in the second half of your life?

Enjoy the fleeting days of summer, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sunya Folayan

 A little about me:  I enjoy helping women who are thinking about their retirement years, and who want to increase their cashflow and build a better financial foundation so they can live more intentional lives of freedom, rest, travel, and ease. Moreover, I center much of my content to reflect the voices and concerns of Black Women.  As a Certified Financial Social Worker, I am also a member of and ambassador for the Professional Financial Wellness Community. I'm from the Midwest USA (Kansas, to be exact) where much of my family still resides.  As a creative practitioner, (textile artist and musician), I I'm figuring out how to integrate all my passions into my life in Mexico where I reside most of the year. You can find me on on social media platforms as Mind and Manna ( YouTube, Fb, IG, Tik Tok) and Sunfolayan (Fb and IG)